Oral history interview, 1992

As an LSU Alumnae and first female African American to live in a LSU dorm, Maxine Crump, native of Maringouin, Louisiana, discusses registering for courses; Louisiana Education Association President J. K. Haynes; naivete about white resentment for black students at LSU; impressions of LSU campus; discusses her dorm room assignment and the steps the university took to keep her separate from white women in the same dorm; failed attempt to get a white roommate; describes the white women who lived on her floor; desire to fit-in at LSU; reaction of black cafeteria workers to her; white students eating with her; rejection by black students because she had white friends; discusses her white friends; white southerners refused to associate with her; membership in the Newman Club; passing in order to go places with her white friends; segregated bars and restaurants near LSU campus; Black Power movement at LSU; Harambe; dress codes for female students; radicalism of Catholic Student Center; priest Michael Cody; liberalization of the Catholic mass; describes discussions with white liberal students about race; feelings of inferiority about her appearance; white liberals taking pride in having black friends; discusses dorm rules and dress codes; David Duke and Free Speech Alley; LSU administration using delaying tactics to kill student activism; institutionalized racism on campus; election of Kerry Pourciau as the first black student government president; discusses flunking out of LSU; racism of sororities and fraternities; increase in employment opportunities for black secretaries in Baton Rouge in the early 1970s; discusses her most and least favorite classes; sexual harassment on campus.

Interviewed by Pamela Dean, July 14, 1992.

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